BASEBALL WORLD LOSES A GIANT!
Battling illness for much of the past year, Dick Birmingham, one of baseball's greatest ambassadors and teachers, passed away today, March 4, 2014, at the age of 80. A member of many Halls of Fame including the American Baseball Coaches Association and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, Coach Birmingham led successful programs at Hillcrest High School and American Legion baseball for over 30 years in his hometown of Springfield, MO. In summers, he was head of instruction at the renowned Mickey Owens Baseball Schools and later formed his own company, Dick Birmingham Sports, directing clinics country-wide and taking teams to international destinations for competition.
More than his coaching achievements, however, Dick was a man of solid character who was widely respected in the baseball world from Major League managers and administrators to little league coaches who gained invaluable knowledge at one of the many clinics for which he volunteered in the hopes of making the game better. He could always be counted on to bring a smile to any gathering, his mental store room of jokes and hilarious stories seemed infinite.
But more than anything, Dick was a friend. A friend who could be counted on anytime and anyplace to do something good for our great game. I first met him while waiting for a bus to the Orange Bowl Football game outside of the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach at the 1977 ABCA Convention on New Year's Day. His gregarious charm - with just a tad of southern "ah, shucks" mixed in - was magnetic. We became instant friends, working clinics and camps together over the years and sharing hundreds and thousands of hours of stories and ideas. Over the next 35 conventions, I looked forward to sitting down and visiting with Dick and his lovely wife Rosemary, sometimes into the early morning hours. Dick was my sponsor when I was inducted into the ABCA Hall in 2007. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
To say his loss today was inestimable would be an understatement. All anyone has to do is google his name on the internet to see his contributions. The baseball world will not see another Dick Birmingham for quite a while...nor will I see another friend as him again. May he rest in peace.
Coach Birmingham is survived by his wife Rosemary, children and grandchildren.
- Tom O'Connell, President, ISG
More than his coaching achievements, however, Dick was a man of solid character who was widely respected in the baseball world from Major League managers and administrators to little league coaches who gained invaluable knowledge at one of the many clinics for which he volunteered in the hopes of making the game better. He could always be counted on to bring a smile to any gathering, his mental store room of jokes and hilarious stories seemed infinite.
But more than anything, Dick was a friend. A friend who could be counted on anytime and anyplace to do something good for our great game. I first met him while waiting for a bus to the Orange Bowl Football game outside of the Deauville Hotel in Miami Beach at the 1977 ABCA Convention on New Year's Day. His gregarious charm - with just a tad of southern "ah, shucks" mixed in - was magnetic. We became instant friends, working clinics and camps together over the years and sharing hundreds and thousands of hours of stories and ideas. Over the next 35 conventions, I looked forward to sitting down and visiting with Dick and his lovely wife Rosemary, sometimes into the early morning hours. Dick was my sponsor when I was inducted into the ABCA Hall in 2007. I wouldn't have had it any other way.
To say his loss today was inestimable would be an understatement. All anyone has to do is google his name on the internet to see his contributions. The baseball world will not see another Dick Birmingham for quite a while...nor will I see another friend as him again. May he rest in peace.
Coach Birmingham is survived by his wife Rosemary, children and grandchildren.
- Tom O'Connell, President, ISG
Young Athletes Should Not Specialize Too Early
There has been much written and discussed recently about whether or not athletes should specialize in sport early in life. ISG feels that specialization hurts athletes and often leads to debilitating injuries. The following link leads to and article on the Changing the Game Project website which adds some clarity to the argument. This is MUST reading for any baseball parent anywhere in the world!
http://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/
http://changingthegameproject.com/what-about-the-single-sport-athlete-specialization-part-ii/
http://changingthegameproject.com/is-it-wise-to-specialize/
http://changingthegameproject.com/what-about-the-single-sport-athlete-specialization-part-ii/
Winter Clinic Season Winding Down
Only three clinics remain for the ISG staff this winter. This month, Jim Jones will lead a team of coaches to Vancouver for a Baseball Canada Certification Clinic while Pete Caliendo leads a week-long coaches training session in Mexico City in March. The final clinic of the ISG season will be held the first week in April in Saskatoon.
Plans are already underway for the 2014-15 clinic schedule which might include the first ever ISG clinic in Asia. Federations that are interested in hosting a clinic next winter should contact ISG early to save a place on the schedule.
Plans are already underway for the 2014-15 clinic schedule which might include the first ever ISG clinic in Asia. Federations that are interested in hosting a clinic next winter should contact ISG early to save a place on the schedule.
MLB Holds Elite Camp in Brazil
Devoted to growing the game internationally, Major League Baseball recently conducted an elite camp in Sao Paulo, Brazil late last year. Read about it here:
Popular ISG clinician Brent Strom moves from the Cardinals to the Astros and is promoted to Major League Pitching Coach for Houston.
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/hou/astros-pitching-coach-brent-strom-brings-st-louis-arms-model-to-houston?ymd=20131009&content_id=62746946&vkey=news_hou
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/hou/astros-pitching-coach-brent-strom-brings-st-louis-arms-model-to-houston?ymd=20131009&content_id=62746946&vkey=news_hou
New Content Added to Coaching Tips Section
Once again ISG will be featuring coaching tips from its board members and former speakers at ISG winter clinics. Go to the Coaching Tips page for this month's lesson from former ISG President and University of Wyoming coach, Jim Jones.
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JUST ADDDED - Photos of the 2013 Vancouver Clinic.
JUST ADDDED - Photos of the 2013 Vancouver Clinic.
